The University of Memphis is preparing to celebrate the arrival of the Lunar New Year this Saturday as the campus Confucius Institute brings its celebrations to the Rose Theater.
Various organizations across Memphis are coming together to mark the upcoming change in the lunar calendar. Headed by the Greater Memphis United Chinese Association, the event will incorporate traditional dance, music, a fashion show and more.
“They’ve been preparing for this celebration for almost a year now,” said Dr. Jin Yang, a journalism professor at the UofM who serves on the board of The Greater Memphis United Chinese Association. “We mobilize the whole community. We also reach out to American families to take part. Everyone is welcome."
Jan. 25 marks the first day of the new lunar year, with celebrations on campus commencing at 6 p.m. in the Rose Theatre. Those attending are preparing to welcome 2020 as the Year of the Rat, the first of the Chinese zodiac signs.
“The Confucius Institute is centered around celebrating the Chinese language and culture. We always have a celebration within the calendar,” said Dan Ye, associate director of the Memphis Confucius Institute.
The institute’s goal is to build a bridge between the Mid-South and Asian communities, a nonprofit group that also facilitates educational exchanges with universities in China.
“We work together with organizations outside of campus to show the Chinese culture,” said Ye. The group brings their traditional performances and dances to audiences across Memphis, including schools and museums.
The institute was founded in 2007 and was the first of its kind throughout Tennessee. They celebrate the New Year as a way to build relationships and bring people together.
With a focus around spending time with family and the welcoming of good fortune, the Lunar New Year is the biggest event in the Asian holiday calendar. Not only is the Chinese New Year celebrated in Chinese culture, but the new year is also welcomed across the globe as a contrast to the traditional Gregorian Calendar used in Western tradition.
“We clean the house inside and out, sweeping away the bad luck and ushering in good luck,” said Jessie Li, president of the Asian American Association at the UofM.
The Asian American Association aims to break the stereotypes about Asian countries and wants to promote the stories of local Asian Americans. For instance, red and gold are often linked with the celebration of the New Year, as they are seen to symbolize good luck. Children are handed red envelopes with money inside, and decorations are embellished around homes painted with these lucky colors.
The event at the Rose Theatre will feature a wealth of Chinese culture. Artists Hyery Wang and The China Jinlinglong World Music Band are set to take to the theater stage to entertain the hundreds of attendees.
Lin Zhang, project coordinator for the Confucius Institute, is preparing the institute’s members for their performance at the event.
“We are working on a traditional Chinese dance called picking melody,” said Zhang.
Zhang explained how the Lunar New Year is celebrated by Asian cultures in a comparable manner to an American Christmas. She said she is excited to see in the new year with her husband and two children at the event after the group’s performance.
Tickets are currently available for purchase starting at $10, with the price set to increase after midnight Friday and are available from The Greater Memphis United Chinese Association’s website.
